Latest 'play nice' effort could quickly unravel

Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves haven't been holding hands and skipping through the Capitol, but they appear to have at least reached détente recently.

They've sung each others' praises in public appearances or statements in recent months. They've appeared to back each others' political play a couple of times, or at least refrained from taking thinly veiled shots at each other. There hasn't been any PDA, public display of anger, such as slamming office doors or yelling at each other's staffers. They both like U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, merit pay for teachers, long walks on the beach and sunsets, and turnoffs include Obamacare.

Heck, it's even been more difficult to get their staffs or supporters to bad-mouth the other recently.

But a test of this new relationship looms in the 2014 legislative session with the Department of Public Safety.

Bryant has declared 2014 the year of public safety and proposes a $21 million increase in funding for the DPS, including $7 million for adding highway patrolmen.

Reeves, and his House counterpart Speaker Philip Gunn, have declared 2014 the year of getting to the bottom of how DPS is managed and spends money. Their initial budget draft includes no extra money for DPS.

This issue could bring more political discord between Bryant and Reeves and create another Republican Party split. Or, it could show they can now amicably resolve issues. It will depend on how each side plays it.

There is a push on by the establishment GOP in Washington and Mississippi for Republicans to play nice, stop internecine squabbling that could hurt the party brand and help Democrats win elections.

Note this recent statement from Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Joe Nosef: "Having robust disagreements on policy, politics and even candidates is unavoidable at a time when we have more Republicans in office than ever before. It is critical, however, that we make sure our energy and resources are focused on defeating our liberal Democrat opponents, rather than on attacking each other."

Many observers viewed Bryant's recent signing, with Reeves at his side, of an executive order as a move in this direction. The order says Mississippi, not the federal government, has control over public school standards and curricula.

This would appear an effort to tamp down tea party-led opposition to implementation of national Common Core standards. And it would appear to give Reeves some cover from his arch nemesis, the Sen. Chris McDaniel-led Conservative Coalition, which has been gearing up to fight Common Core and brand Reeves and other Republicans who support it as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only).

Bryant denies any such political maneuvering with his executive order, but it did help Reeves politically.

Neither Reeves nor Bryant, it would appear, is openly plotting to run, or cause others to run, for the other's position in 2015 - talk of which was common back during the height of their Troubles over the last two years.

Daisies may not be sprouting from their political cannons at this point, and a legislative session can create animosity between even the best of political friends.

But for now there appears to be at least a cease-fire.

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Latest 'play nice' effort could quickly unravel

Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves haven't been holding hands and skipping through the Capitol, but they appear to have at least reached détente recently.

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